Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
The people of Maryland elected Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
to be their U.S. Senator because she's a fighter –
looking out for the day-to-day needs of Marylanders and
the long range needs of the nation.
Growing up in the Highlandtown neighborhood of East Baltimore,
Mikulski learned the values of hard work, neighbor helping
neighbor and heartfelt patriotism. She often saw her father
open the family grocery store early so local steelworkers
could buy lunch before the morning shift.
Determined to make a difference in her community, Mikulski
became a social worker in Baltimore, helping at-risk children
and educating seniors about the Medicare program. Social
work evolved into community activism when Mikulski successfully
organized communities against a plan to build a 16-lane
highway through Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood. She
helped stop the road, saving Fells Point and Baltimore's
Inner Harbor, both thriving residential and commercial communities
today.
Mikulski is a trailblazer. Her first election was a successful
run for Baltimore City Council in 1971, where she served
for five years. In 1976, she ran for Congress and won, representing
Maryland's 3rd district for 10 years. In 1986, she ran for
Senate and won, becoming the first Democratic woman Senator
elected in her own right. She was re-elected with large
majorities in 1992, 1998 and 2004.
A leader in the Senate, Mikulski is the Dean of the Women
– serving as a mentor to other women Senators when
they first take office. As the dean, she builds coalitions
– proving that the Senate women are not solo acts,
but work together to get things done.
Mikulski’s experiences as a social worker and activist
provided valuable lessons that she draws on as a United
States Senator. She believes her constituents have a right
to know, a right to be heard and a right to be represented.
She listens to her constituents and makes the personal,
political.
Putting Values Into Action
As a United States Senator, Mikulski puts her values into
action to make a difference in people's lives.
- Fighting for access to quality education.
Mikulski is working for every student to have access to
higher education so they can follow the American dream.
She has been fighting to double Pell grants, to institute
a tuition tax credit and for public schools families can
depend on.
- Standing up for America's seniors.
Mikulski is a strong supporter of the Older Americans
Act and is fighting for pensions people can count on.
She wrote the Spousal Anti-Impoverishment Act to keep
seniors from going bankrupt while paying for a spouse's
nursing home care. She fights to reform Medicare.
- Working on the side of cures and research. Mikulski
is fighting to increase Alzheimer’s and stem cell
research. She has also worked to increase the budget for
the National Institutes of Health and continues to be
a leader in increasing funding for uterine fibroid research.
- Continuing to lead on women's health.
Mikulski fought to have women included in clinical trials
and medical research at the National Institutes of Health.
She wrote the law requiring federal standards for mammograms
and fought for uninsured women to get screenings and treatment
for breast and cervical cancer.
- Fighting for America’s veterans.
Mikulski believes promises made to our veterans must be
promises kept. She works for affordable, accessible, compassionate
and competent veteran health care. She fights to improve
veteran services, benefits and Maryland facilities.
- Supporting volunteers and national service.
Mikulski is a large advocate of the hard work
and the spirit of volunteerism embodied by AmeriCorps
and fights to ensure it is adequately supported.
Preparing America for the Future
Mikulski is committed to a safer, stronger and smarter
Maryland and nation. That means protecting America from
terrorism and making investments in science, technology
and innovation.
- Setting the stage for the next century of America’s
innovation economy. Mikulski believes we are
in an amazing race for discovery and new knowledge to
remain competitive and to foster an innovation society.
She is working to ensure America keeps its leading edge
in science and technology. Her Freedom to Achieve Initiative
promotes competitiveness abroad and opportunities at home
to compete in the global workplace.
- Supporting innovation at Maryland military and
science institutions. In tours of statewide facilities
working toward an innovation economy, Mikulski applauds
the development of smarter tools for our military, innovative
technology and programs, and new jobs for the state.
- Working hard to protect America. Mikulski
supported the creation of the Department of Homeland Security,
and she worked with her colleagues from Maryland and Virginia
to make sure there is a National Capital Region coordinator
at the new agency. She is a leader in the fight for more
federal investment in hometown security.
- Fighting for our first responders.
Mikulski fights every year for increased funding for FEMA's
fire grant program to protect our protectors. Grants help
local fire departments buy equipment and protective gear.
- Advocating for space exploration and scientific
inquiry. As the senior Democrat on the Appropriations
Subcommittee that funds NASA, Mikulski supports the Hubble
Telescope, Mission to Planet Earth, and other science
and space programs. This year, Mikulski is leading the
fight to provide $1 billion in federal funding to pay
back NASA for the costs of returning the Space Shuttle
to flight.
Delivering for Maryland
Mikulski has never forgotten her roots. Throughout her
career, she has returned home each night to her home city
of Baltimore. From community activist to U.S. Senator, she
has never changed her view that all politics and policy
is local and that her job is to serve the people in their
day-to-day needs as well as prepare this country for the
future.
- Saving the Chesapeake Bay. Mikulski
fights to improve the Bay’s health and looks out
for the people who depend on it for their livelihoods.
- Building communities. Mikulski is building
communities where Marylanders can work, live, play and
pray. She is a leader in the fight against flipping and
predatory lending. She helped change the face of public
housing by creating HOPE VI B a program that replaces
high-rise slums with livable communities.
- Making Maryland safe for families. Mikulski
is working to increase funding for cops on the street
and law enforcement partnerships throughout the state.
She has fought for critical funding to launch a statewide
anti-gang initiative.
- Keeping Marylanders on the move. Mikulski
fights every year for a federal investment in Maryland’s
public transportation systems, roadways, airports and
waterways.
Barbara A. Mikulski
is proud to be the Senator from Maryland and for
Maryland.
For a version of the Senator Mikulski's biography in Spanish,
click
here.
To read about a typical day for Senator Mikulski, click
here.